Method of playing game and gaming device with interactive driving game display

ABSTRACT

Methods of playing games and gaming devices useful with playing games whereby the gaming device comprises a first gaming unit for displaying a randomly selected combination of indicia and the means for generating at least one signal corresponding to the first gaming unit. The gaming device also comprises a second gaming unit for displaying an interactive driving video game whereby the second gaming unit is operatively connected to the first gaming unit and the second gaming unit becomes actuable or is activated in response to the signal generated by the first gaming unit.

[0001] The present invention is directed to methods of playing wageringgames and gaming devices comprising a second gaming unit for displayinga randomly determined interactive video driving game which also allows aplayer to interact with the gaming device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Games of chance have been enjoyed by people for thousands ofyears and have enjoyed widespread popularity in recent times. Manypeople enjoy playing variations of games that they have not previouslyplayed before. Playing new variations of games adds to the excitement ofthis recreational activity particularly when some form of gaming isinvolved. As used herein, the term “gaming and gaming devices” are usedto indicate that some form of wagering is involved, and that playersmust make wagers of value, whether actual currency or some equivalent ofvalue, e.g., token or credit.

[0003] Players involved in games of wagering often enjoy new games orvariations of old games with relatively simple rules that can be readilylearned by a beginner or casual player. Variations to a game withrespect to the method of wagering and the ability to increase winningsattracts more players and is highly desired in the industry. The abilityto increase winnings where risk is involved based on the selection of apossible random outcome is also highly desired. Therefore, it isdesirable to offer players new variations of games that allow playersadditional opportunities to increase winning payouts. It would beparticularly desirable to provide opportunities to increase winningpayouts and also allow a player to interact with a gaming device in theform of a video game. For example, offering a player the opportunity toplay a video game and increase his winnings by playing such a video gameis also desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Various embodiments of the present invention comprise gamingdevices having a first gaming unit for displaying randomly selectedindicia and means for generating a signal corresponding to some signalfrom the first gaming unit, for example, input by the player, therandomly displayed indicia, or some interim event occurring during theplay of the first gaming unit. The gaming device also includes asecondary unit for displaying an interactive driving video wherein thesecond gaming unit is connected to the first gaming unit and becomesoperational in response to a signal generated by the first gaming unit.According to one embodiment, a first payout indicator is responsive tothe first gaming unit of the gaming device, and a second payoutindicator is responsive to the second gaming unit.

[0005] In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the displayedindicia of the first gaming unit may be in the form of reels, indicia ofreels, playing cards, indicia of playing cards, dice, indicia of dice,numbers, indicia of numbers, and combinations thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006]FIG. 1 depicts a typical configuration of a slot machine versionof the present invention.

[0007]FIG. 2 depicts a typical configuration of a video poker gameversion of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0008] The various embodiments of the present invention are designed toprovide added excitement to a gaming device in order to increase theenjoyment of players and to serve as an added attraction to potentialplayers. One embodiment of the present invention provides a novelconcept to gaming wherein a player's award on a primary game may bechanged or supplemented by a secondary unit which comprises aninteractive video driving display, but which has at least one outcomewhich is randomly determined.

[0009] One embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in FIG. 1,shows a gaming device 10 comprising a three-reel slot 14. Three-reelslot 14 comprises three rotatable reels, each of which comprise aplurality of indicia on the periphery thereof. Gaming device 10 furtherincludes instructions 44 and video instructional prompt 46, for playinggaming device 10.

[0010] Total credit window 70 displays a player's available credit andwager amount window 72 displays a player's wager. Gaming device 10comprises housing 12 which encases components, as known in the art, tofacilitate operation of gaming device 10. Gaming device 10 furtherincludes a second gaming unit comprising an interactive video display100 for a driving game that is activated or becomes activatable inresponse to a signal from the first gaming unit.

[0011] A player may place a wager to play a game through coin or tokenacceptor 20 and collect winnings through coin receptacle 24. Gamingdevice 10 further comprises a first payout indicator 30 that indicatesto a player that a winning preselected combination of indicia has beendisplayed. A second payout indicator 40 indicates that a player hasobtained a successful or losing outcome with the interactive video gameand such play has resulted in a winning payout. Gaming device 10receives input for play through “SPIN” button 50, “CANCEL” button 54,“BET ONE” button 58, “BET MAX” button 62 and joystick 66.

[0012] As illustrated in FIG. 1, gaming device 10 comprises a game forplaying a three-reeled slot game, as shown by the three reeled slotindicia 14. To begin play, a player places coins or tokens in coin ortoken acceptor 20. The total amount of the coins or tokens is displayedin total credit window 70. A player then inputs a wagering amount using“BET ONE” button 58 or “BET MAX” button 62, as represented in wageramount window 72. Subsequent to wagering, a player is then prompted,through video instructional prompt 46, to actuate “SPIN” button 50 toactivate rotation of the of three-reeled slots 14. Gaming device 10subsequently generates randomly selected indicia as displayed onrotatable reels 14. The displayed indicia of rotatable reels 14 iscompared to a preselected winning combination of rotatable reels (notshown, contained within housing 12 as is commonly known in the art). Ifthe displayed indicia 14 does not match a pre-selected winningcombination of indicia, a player may: 1) cash out and collect theremaining available credit through coin receptacle 24; or 2) play againand wager from the remaining available credit displayed in total creditwindow 70.

[0013] As illustrated in FIG. 1, gaming device 10 includes a secondgaming unit comprising an interactive video display 110 which displays avideo driving game. The video driving game, in this embodiment, promptsa player to maneuver a vehicle through a driving course, preferably theLas Vegas Strip. A player maneuvers the vehicle displayed from videoscreen 110 by manually manipulating joystick 66. Joystick 66 and thecorresponding electronics and appropriate software which are programmedto effect use of joystick 66 and play of the video driving gamedisplayed from video screen 110 of this invention are included withinhousing 12 of gaming device 10. The particular electronic elements andsoftware programming format could be readily assembled and performed byone skilled in the art in light of the present description providedherein, therefore, further detailed explanation of the specificelectronics and programming is not provided herein.

[0014] The path, through which a player maneuvers with joystick 66, isintended to have various random events which are beyond the player'scontrol. Therefore, though a player may select which path to maneuver avehicle as displayed on video screen 110, the player's skill does notdetermine the outcome of the secondary game. For example, a typical gamescenario displayed from video screen 110 involves a vehicle coming to anintersection where randomly controlled events happen. The vehicle couldget into an accident, could be engulfed in lava from an eruptingvolcano, or could have the stratosphere tower fall down on top of him(as seen through a sun roof). Mishaps such as these would result indestruction of the vehicle and/or have a negative effect on a player'swinning payout.

[0015] In the alternative, if a player is permitted to maneuver thevehicle safely down the Las Vegas strip, the player's winning payoutwill be affected. According to one aspect of the present invention,payouts increase as the player gets further down Las Vegas Boulevard.The player may also be provided the option of stopping his “trip” at anytime and taking the payout corresponding to his present location. Theawards can be used to change an award on the base game by increasing itby displayed amounts, multiplying it by a multiplier, or both.Alternatively, an independent award/payout can be provided by thesecondary game.

[0016] In FIG. 2, a preferred embodiment of the present invention showsgaming device 115 comprising a video poker game as the first gamingunit. Video screen 114 displays an indicia of playing cards. Gamingdevice 115 also comprises housing 112 which encases components tofacilitate operation of gaming device 115. Similar to the featuresillustrated in FIG. 1 for gaming device 10, gaming device 115 alsocomprises instructions 144, video instructional prompt 146, total creditwindow 170, wager amount window 172, coin or token acceptor 120 and coinreceptacle 24. Gaming device 115 also includes a second gaming unitcomprising an interactive video driving game display 200, similar to theinteractive video game 100 illustrated and described in FIG. 1.

[0017] A player will be prompted from video prompt 146, to enter awagering amount through coin and/or token acceptor 120, the total beingdisplayed in total credit window 170. A player will then be promptedfrom video prompt 146 to place a wagering amount for that game. A playermay then select the amount of her wager for that game, using bet “ONE”button 158 or bet “MAX” button 162, from her total amount of credits asdisplayed in total credit window 170. This amount of wager will bedisplayed in wager amount window 172. Upon selecting a wagering amount,player will then be prompted to activate the “deal” button 150, whichactivates gaming device 115 to display indicia of playing cardsdisplayed from video screen 114. After the initial display of indicia ofplaying cards, buttons 157 allow a player to hold or discard any of theindicia of cards displayed from video screen 114. A player will thenactuate “deal” button 150 to display new cards for those indicia ofplaying cards discarded.

[0018] Similar to the manner of playing the three-reeled slot game,shown in FIG. 1, the video poker game illustrated in FIG. 2 displays anindicia of playing cards from video screen 114 that is compared to apreselected winning combination of indicia of playing cards (not shown,contained within housing 12, as is commonly known in the art). If thedisplayed indicia displayed from video screen 114 does not match apreselected winning combination of indicia, a player may: 1) cash outand collect the remaining available credits through coin receptacle 124;or 2) play again and wager from the remaining available creditsdisplayed in total credit window 170.

[0019] Upon generation of a winning combination of indicia, a player maychoose: 1) to cash out and collect her winnings; 2) add to her winnings;or 3) play the interactive video game 200.

[0020] Similar to the gaming device of FIG. 1, gaming device 115includes a second gaming unit comprising an interactive video display ofa driving game. The video driving game, prompts a player to maneuver avehicle through a driving course, preferably the Las Vegas strip.Similar to FIG. 1, a player maneuvers the vehicle displayed from videoscreen 210 by manually manipulating joystick 166. The correspondingelectronics and appropriate software which are programmed to allow useof joystick 166 and play of the video driving game displayed on screen210 are included within housing 112 of gaming device 115. The manner ofplay effectuated by the video driving game of gaming device 115 issimilar to the method used for gaming devices 10 in FIG. 1. If therandomly determined result of the video driving game is the destructionof the vehicle, preferably a negative effect is imparted to the player'swinning payout. In the alternative, if a player is permitted to maneuverthe vehicle safely down the Las Vegas strip, the player's winning payoutwill be increased.

What its claimed:
 1. A gaming device comprising: a first gaming unit fordisplaying a randomly selected combination of indicia; means forgenerating at least one signal corresponding to said first gaming unit;means for displaying indicia of an interactive video driving gamewherein said displaying means is operatively connected to said firstgaming unit and said second gaming unit becomes actuatable in responseto said at least one signal; and means for receiving player input tochange the display of said interactive video game, wherein saidinteractive video driving game displays an outcome which, despite playerinput, is randomly determined.
 2. A gaming device according to claim 1wherein said signal generating means generates a signal when said firstgaming unit displays one of a plurality of predetermined outcomes.
 3. Agaming device according to claim 1 wherein said signal generating meansgenerates a signal when said first gaming unit displays a predeterminedoutcome.
 4. A gaming device according to claim 1 wherein said signalgenerating means generates a signal in response to a wager of apredetermined amount by a player.
 5. A gaming device according to claim1 wherein said signal generating means generates a signal in response toa maximum wager by a player.
 6. A gaming device according to claim 1wherein said signal generating means generates a signal in response tosome intermediate event occurring during the play of said first gamingunit.
 7. A gaming device according to claim 6 wherein said intermediateevent is a predetermined initial display on said first gaming unit.
 8. Agaming device according to claim 1 wherein said signal generating meansgenerates a signal after the play of a predetermined number of games bya player on said first gaming unit.
 9. A gaming device according toclaim 1 wherein said signal generating means generates a signal inresponse to wagering at a certain rate by a player on said first gamingunit.
 10. A gaming device according to claim 1 wherein said first gamingunit indicates an award to a player in response to at least one of aplurality of possible randomly determined outcomes and that award ischanged in response to an outcome on the secondary game.
 11. A gamingdevice according to claim 1 said driving game unit determines a paymentwhich is not related to an award on said first gaming unit.
 12. A gamingdevice according to claim 1 when a player's payment is enhanced inresponse to the player covering greater distances in said drivingdisplay.
 13. A gaming device according to claim 1 further comprisingmeans for receiving player input during the play of the driving gameunit to take a payout based on the status of the driving game unit.